What’s up with user accounts in Windows 8? It’s not complicated – Microsoft wants everyone to use an online account to sign into their desktop operating system. Sure, they offer an offline equivalent, but they also made a few features available only to online accounts – the entire app store, for example. It’s clear Microsoft would rather you use an online account, regardless of what you yourself would prefer.

Traditionally, when setting up Windows, it’s one of the first things that you do – create a Microsoft user account. It’s still true with Windows 8, with one key difference – by default you’re asked to create an online account, or simply log into an online account you have. If you’ve got a Hotmail, MSN or even an XBox account you can sign in using that. The idea is that you’ll be able to log into any Windows 8 computer using your account – and bring your apps and settings with you.

Of course, not every computer is constantly connected to the Internet – something Microsoft realizes.And some people don’t want to register for an online account just to use a particular operating system. It’s why the latest version of Windows offers two distinct types of accounts – online and off.

Online & Local Accounts

Like I said, there are two different sorts of Microsoft user accounts. It’s hard to tell by default, however, because Microsoft seemingly goes far out of their way to hide the option for an offline account. You’ll find it buried at the bottom-left of the account creation screen:

Click that and you will, before you can actually get to creating the account, see an entire screen of reasons you should consider an online account:

They’ve even gone out of their way to make the “Microsoft Account” option stand out, just to increase the likelihood that you’ll click it. Whatever you think of Microsoft accounts, one thing is clear – Microsoft really, really, really wants you to use one.

That being said, offline accounts are still available – and if you plan on mostly using desktop apps (ie, apps not from the Microsoft Store) you probably won’t notice the difference.

Why You Want An Online Account

So, why would anyone want a Microsoft account? Some of the reasons – like having one user account for multiple computers, complete with synced browser history – obviously need an online account to work. Others – like exclusive access to the Microsoft Store – are required by Microsoft despite no technical reason for being so, perhaps in part to encourage people to use online accounts.

Let’s break down some of the reasons you should consider using a Microsoft account instead of a local one.

Access To The Microsoft Store

Want to try out one of the thousands of apps that populate Microsoft’s answer to the App Store? You’re going to need a Microsoft Account, then – even free apps require an account.

Was it necessary for Microsoft to do this? Not necessarily – they could have allowed anyone to download free apps, account or not. And even if your primary account is offline you can add an online account specifically for the store – but at that point you might as well sign in with it.

SkyDrive Space

Sign up for a Microsoft account and get 7 GB of SkyDrive space. It’s that simple.

Syncing

Take your browser bookmarks, apps, and all of your Windows settings with you, automatically. With a Microsoft account it doesn’t matter whether you’re on your Surface tablet or your desktop Dell – your settings stay the same everywhere. Even your browser bookmarks will follow you – assuming, of course, that you’re primarily using Internet Explorer.

It goes deeper than that, though – you can link your Microsoft account to other online accounts, and those links will also follow you. Sign into Facebook, for example, and all of your contacts will show up in the Windows contact manager. Add your email settings and they’ll show up in Microsoft’s default mail client – and follow you instantly from PC to PC. The idea is to simplify jumping from one machine to the other, and while it’s not incredibly useful now – too many people are jumping between Windows 8 and 7 machines, not to mention non-Microsoft tablets and phone – it could be a killer future if the platform continues to grow.

Of course, your desktop apps and their settings won’t sync – just the apps from the Microsoft store and a few Microsoft settings. So don’t expect miracles, but know that the syncing can be pretty nice.

Switch Account Type

Did you set up Windows without an offline account? Whether you didn’t have an active Internet connection at the time or were simply skeptical, Microsoft makes switching from one form of account to the other simple. Just head to the “Users” section of the PC settings and you’ll see a button for the job:

Click that button and you can switch from an online to an offline account in no time.

Conclusion

So, should you use an online Microsoft user account? Microsoft clearly thinks so – they’re pushing the feature pretty heavily. And despite the skepticism I’ve shown, I don’t think there’s a compelling reason to stick to an offline account for a personal user. Businesses, however, should perhaps think twice before setting up online accounts for their user base – there’s a potential security hole here without a lot of enterprise features in return.

But I want to know what you think. Do you use an online or an offline account with Windows 8? Why? I’ve said enough, so speak your mind below. I’m looking forward to it.

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Bryce

April 28, 2018 at 10:33 pm

I know this if off topic but I'm looking into starting my own blog and was
curious what all is required to get setup? I'm assuming having a blog like yours would cost
a pretty penny? I'm not very internet savvy so
I'm not 100% sure. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
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I went from windows 8 to 8.1. then 10 and everything went south! lost all my pics too.
Now i have Norton popping up all the time. He is a virus!
I've forgot my admin password long ago and cannot change anything without it.
I'm hooped!

listen...microsoft has really big hidden agendas...ok...so to try2tell you that you HAVE2set up an online account...out of their minds...i think its a great idea for an online acct.so whatever computer you use you have you stuff...cool...but the computer is yours...you bought it...its in your house...so of course you want a user account..especially admin account because its your computer...then you set up a standard for internet surfing..and then...if YOU.want you can do the online deal....if you want...thats what microsoft doesnt get...they are a service...not a emperorship....they dont tell us what we have2do...they need2listen2what WE want...period

As per usual Microsoft would like to abrogate our freedom of choice. In addition to use of the App Store and syncing, one can't help noticing that "Refresh your PC" fails to restore installed apps not from the App store. The only excuse for using Windows 8 is that it is visibly faster and in the non-Metro mode it still looks and feels like Windows 7.

I use windows 8 but with an offline profile for one simple reason -- no necessity to write my password every time i login. I'm not a particularly paranoid person and i'm the only one who uses my computer. What if it gets stolen you ask? I'll just nuke it with Prey. It's installed on all of my devices for if someone steals them.

It is very inconvenient to have all your important data, mail, photos on email, etc. and not be able to get to them!
I had Cox email prior to buying my new computer which has windows 8. I no longer can access Cox. I understand that MS doesn't support the type of server etc. that is used.
Now have Outlook but still need to get to my data to retrieve what is valid. Is there a way to access Cox email that I can use?
Roy Holland

MIcrosoft wants to keep you using only microsoft products.They want to be a monopoly. "They work better" M$ whines. If they did, I might use them. But it's getting to where the giants are competing. Now, since M$ owns Skype, we can only use skype with an M$ account. soon, Bing will be compulsory, and Edge. Google has all it's stuff, OS, browser, google+, youtube, gmail. They want you, too, and don't want you going elsewhere.

To me the biggest problem with Microsoft requiring a user account to access the app store and other features is the simple fact that one day out of the blue they may decide your account violated some obscure policy and just simply ban it, leaving you high and dry. What happens to your account on your computer if it gets banned? Can you log in?

While this is older I would have to disagree to some extent Justin. If the Windows account is registered with the activation key provided with the OS I could easily see a total lockout happening. I mean everything is so tied together now and Windows 10 is going to be doing this same nonsense of Live ID's so I can only imagine it getting worse further into the future. (If they don't ban a product ID yet. Similar to how they block a whole Xbox console).

I live in the Caribbean and the internet does not exist everywhere nor at your fingertip. So how do I log in when I want to chill in car or under a tree?

And why cant I use apps if I am not using the offline account?
That's what Apple is there for.
If anyone from Microsoft is reading this then I dare say if you continue to push out things like Vista and Win 8 without thinking things through then your business plan is sure to fail.

PS why did you not call Windows RT something different like Windows Tablet OS instead of having people buy things only to come to technician to find out that the OS is different from actual windows?

I've already shed a tear or two over the death of Clippy. He was quite a guy, with his bulging eyes and wide smile. Microsoft should be brought to justice over the way they killed him off and then poked fun at his untimely demise.

Siri would be way cooler if she was a cartoon dog and/or paperclip. Just saying...

Lisa Santika Onggrid

April 28, 2013 at 2:20 pm

Funnily, we can replicate every feature mentioned without having online account. Just get any USB drive and fill it with portable apps of your choice, and you're ready to go. Like someone here said before, Win8 is trying a Chrome-like approach, but it's a full fledged desktop unlike Chromebook. It's annoying to have an online account to test applications, because I like having a totally offline machine (for various reasons). This means I can't download the program's installer to test on such machine.

Apple Chrome and Microsoft are all doing it.If you want the sync features and the other benefits that go along with it it is a great idea.I don't enjoy being registered everywhere as I feel There is enough of my information on the web already but if you want the services you don't really have a choice.I guess what I find offensive is it appears in the grey area,a little underhanded.

I would like to thank the author for an objective, balanced approach. When he wrote: "Microsoft really, really, really wants you to use one..", I thought, "OK, this is an author who tells us what we need to know, not what Microsoft wants us to hear.

That said, I think what Microsoft is trying to do is nothing short of disgusting. I cannot wait until we finish showing Microsoft how we feel about their attempt to herd us like cattle.

Well I have to say I just love windows 8. Though I consider myself impartial. I think it's always concerning the way MS tries to keep track of users. I don't think any of us enjoy being controlled in anyway. In the other hand, I want to mention Chrome does exactly the same. When you run the first time Chrome, everything in it pushes you to use your google account on it. It is quite useful, since you sync tons of stuff. You can bring with you all your data wherever you go. So it's not less useful using your microsoft account on windows for me.

Maybe the point of having to sign up on line is so they can track the number of installs, locations etc. Not to mention they will then be spamming your inbox with how wonderful Bing is (in the same way it keeps appearing as a desktop add on among the optional updates to Windows 7).

Microsoft seems determined to build a walled garden the same as apple and I for 1 do not wish to have the rigamarole of needing an email address to use an OS or access.

I have 3 email addresses with MS already, each for a specific purpose, as well as other email addresses for other purposes (nothing shady!) and frankly dont need another and at the same time have no wish to associate my current hotmail/outlook with my OS.

I agree that in business this is going to be a headache not withstanding the fun of Metro/Windows confusion with applications, permissions etc for company software (and heaven knows about bespoke!)

MS8 - another fail (nail?) - and yes I have tried it. It adds nothing to my use of computers even at the cheap upgrade price

Justin Pot is a technology journalist based in Portland, Oregon. He loves technology, people and nature – and tries to enjoy all three whenever possible. You can chat with Justin on Twitter, right now.